m> 


*     JAN  19  1905 


DELIVERED  IN   PORTLAND, 


IUjYE  25,  1823, 


BEFORE  THE 


MAINE  MISSIONARY   SOCIETY 


.    I 


SIXTEENTH  ANNIVERSARY. 


Bx  HARVEY  LOOM  IS, 

PASTOR    OT    A    CHURCH    IK    BANGOR. 


VALLOWELL : 

PRINTED  BY  ^OODALE,  GLAZIER  fy  QQ 

1823. 


M  d  meeting  of  the  Maine  Missionary  Society,  at  Portland, 
June  25,  1823  ;— 

Voted,  That  the  Rev.  Ekos  Merrill,  the  Rev.  Thaddeus 
PoMERor,  and  the  Rev.  Allen  Greelt,  be  a  Committe  to  pre- 
sent the  thanks  of  this  Society,  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Loomis,  for  his 
Sermon  before  the  Society  ;  and  to  request  a  copy  for  -publication 
Attest,        B.  THURSTON,  Record.  Sec'y, 


§m 


Mark  xiv.  8.    "  She  hath  done  what  she  could." 

THIS  was  a  very  honorable  testimony  given  by  the 
Saviour,  in  favor  of  one,  who  had  performed  a  certain 
service  for  him ;  a  service,  which  was  peculiarly  ac- 
ceptable, as  it  was  prompted  by  reverence,  gratitude 
and  love.  This  service  was  performed  by  a  female 
disciple.     It  was  Mary,  the  sister  of  Lazarus. 

She  had,  before  this,  surrendered  her  heart  to  the 
Saviour,  and  had  "  chosen  that  good  part,  which," 
he  declared,  "  should  not  be  taken  away  from  her." 
He  had  graciously  forgiven  her  sins,  and  received  her 
into  his  favor.  And  she  felt  constrained,  by  the  influ- 
ence of  the  strongest  and  most  affecting  obligations,  to 
do  something,  to  honor  and  please  that  heavenly 
Friend,  that  blessed  Saviour,  to  whom  she  felt  herself 
indebted  for  all  her  happiness  and  hopes  5  and  whose 
character,  she  viewed,  as  being  in  itself,  supremely 
excellent  and  glorious.  She  must  do  something  to 
honor  and  please  this  Saviour.  She  resolved  to  do  all 
that  she  could.  In  pursuance  of  this  resolution,  she 
presented  an  offering,  which  was  «  very  precious,"  and 
was  commended  by  Christ  as  performing  "a good 
work ,'? 


The  Circumstances,  connected  with  this  transaction, 
are  related  in  the  verses  preceding  the  text. — Christ 
was  in  Bethany,  and  at  meat  in  the  house  of  Simon 
the  leper.  And  "  there  came  a  woman,  having  an 
alabaster  box  of  ointment  of  spikenard,  very  precious  ; 
and  she  brake  the  box,  and  poured  it  on  his  head." 
Such  was  her  "  good  work ;"  such  her  tribute  of 
Reverence  and  love.  This  was  a  costly  offering ;  be- 
ing worth  three  hundred  pence ;  which  in  our  curren- 
cy is  a  little  more  than  forty-four  dollars.* 

In  Eastern  countries,  it  was  not  an  unusual  prac- 
tice, as  a  tribute  of  respect  and  affection  to  deceased 
friends  or  persons  of  distinction,  to  embalm  their 
bodies,  with  some  precious  ointment ;  probably  not 
unlike  that  used  on  this  occasion  by  Mary. 

As  Christ  was  about  to  be  takeu  from  the  worlds 
Mary  performed  this  work  as  a  testimony  of  her  friend- 
ship and  affection.  This  was  a  cheerful  offering.  The 
great  expense  which  it  incurred,  (and  considering  her 
probable  worldly  circumstances,  the  expense  was  very 
great  for  her ;  even  exhausting,  as  we  may  infer  from  the 
language  of  the  text,  all  he*r  pecuniary  means,)  the  ex- 
pense, I  say,  did  not  deter  her  from  the  work.  Nothing 
in  her  view,  was  too  costly — nothing  too  precious  for 
Christ.  But  for  this  benevolent  service  she  was  cen- 
sured. "  There  were  some  that  had  indignation  within 
themselves,  and  said,  Why  was  this  waste  of  the  oint- 
ment made  ?  For  it  might  have  been  sold  for  more  than 
three  hundred  pence,  and  have  been  given  to  the  poor; 
and  they  murmured  against  her."  In  the  gospel  ac- 
cording to  John,  this  objection,  is  said  to  have  been 

*  844,40  cents; 


made  by  Judas  Iscariot.  Ami  it  is  also  said,  that  he 
made  it,  "  not  that  he  cared  for  the  poor,  but  because 
he  was  a  thief,  and  had  the  bag,  and  bare  what  was 
put  therein." 

In  Matthew,  it  is  said,  that  the  disciples  made  this 
objectiou.  Jt  is  probable  that  the  objection  was  first 
made  by  Judas  ;  who  having,  at  that  time,  the  confi- 
dence of  the  other  disciples,  influenced  the  minds  of 
some  of  them  to  join  with  him. 

The  enemies  of  the  gospel  are  always  unwilling, 
that  the  Saviour  should  be  honored.  Many  of  them 
affect  to  believe,  and  they 'openly  avow,  that  money 
contributed,  as  well  as  other  exertions  made,  to  advance 
the  interests  of  his  kingdom,  and  to  confer  the  bless- 
ings of  his  religiou  upon  the  destitute,  is  a  waste — a 
useless  expenditure— au  unnecessary  and  injurious  ap- 
propriation, of  the  means  of  charity.  Heoce  they  ob- 
ject to  the  efforts  of  benevolent,  engaged  christians  at 
the  present  day  ;  efforts,  made  by  them,  to  honor  the 
precious  name  of  Christ,  by  extending  the  triumphs  of 
his  cross,  in  the  salvation  of  the  millions  who  are  per 
ishing  in  their  sins. 

Why  is  this  waste  of  the  ointment  made  ?  Why 
this  waste  of  the  money  ? 

These  objections  and  complaints  arise  from  deep 
rooted  enmity  to  Christ.  It  is  this  enmity,  which 
works  upon  the  native  covetousness  of  man,  and  pro- 
duces such  violent  and  painful  agitation,  whenever 
any  thing  is  to  be  done  for  th«  cause  of  Christ.  And 
this  covetousness  is  never  s<  powerfully  wrought  upon 
and  excited,  when  the  expenditure  is  incurred  for  any 
other  purpose.     Hence  the  "  indignation"  that  is  fell 


6 

rind  expressed,  whenever  the  alledged  "  waste,"  hag 
reference  to  the  interests  of  Christ's  kingdom.  But 
these  men  would  by  no  means  have  it  supposed,  that 
they  are  unfriendly  to  acts  of  charity.  So  they 
substitute  some  other  object ;  and  as  they  would  have 
it,  some  more  worthy  object,  upon  which  charity 
should  be  bestowed ;  and  they  generally,  like  Judas, 
bring  in  the  poor.  "  Why  was  not  this  ointment  sold 
for  three  hundred  pence  and  given  to  the  poor?" — 
Why  are  not  the  benefactions,  presented  to  Christ  for 
the  honor  of  his  name  and  the  salvation  of  souls,  re- 
served for  the  poor  ? — as  though  these  objectors  were 
indeed  so  very  solicitous  for  the  poor. 

It  is  unquestionably  a  most  imperious  duty  to  assist 
the  poor.  This  is  always  a  duty,  and  there  is  always 
an  opportunity  of  performing  it,  as  we  always  have 
the  poor  with  us.  But  Christ  has  claims  upon  his  crea- 
tures ;  and  there  are  special  seasons,  when  every  pos- 
sible effort  should  be  made,  to  honor  him  by  extending 
the  blessings  of  his  religion.  And  let  it  be  remarked, 
(hat  they  who  are  most  disposed  thus  to  honor  Christ, 
are  most  forward  to  assist  the  poor.  It  may  well  be 
presumed,  that  Mary  felt  as  much,  and  did  as  much  for 
the  poor,  as  Judas  did. — And  I  apprehend,  that  the 
poor  would  be  most  wretchedly  provided  for  indeed, 
had  they  no  better  friends,  than  they  who  are  influenc- 
ed to  plead  their  cause,  merely  from  enmity  to  Christ 
and  his  religion.  It  is  as  common,  as  it  is  easy,  to  at- 
tempt to  conceal  a  heart  full  of  covetousness  and  of 
opposition  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  under  the  false  pro- 
fession  of  a  most  wonderful  concern  for  the  poor. 


7 

Thus  it  was  with  Judas.  And  he  did  it,  "  not  thai 
he  cared  for  the  poor." 

Men  of  this  description,  will  often,  by  their  pretend- 
ed, apparent  disinterestedness,  influence,  for  a  time,  the 
minds  of  some  weak  and  undecided  christians  ;  and 
lead  them  to  set  up  their  complaint,  in  unison  with  the 
enemies  of  religion,  and  to  express  their  fears,  that 
there  will  be  a  "  waste"  in  doing  so  much  for  Christ 
and  for  souls  ;  or  at  least,  that  in  consequence  of  it,  the 
interests  of  the  poor  may  not  be  duly  consulted.  And 
when  they  yield  to  such  influence,  and  suffer  them- 
selves to  be  thus  led,  they  act  a  part  utterly  at  vari- 
ance with  the  principles  of  enlightened,  christian  be- 
nevolence ;  a  part  meriting  and  receiving  the  severe 
and  unqualified  rebuke  of  the  Saviour.  Thus  it  was 
with  some  of  the  disciples,  who  murmured  at  this  wo- 
man for  pouring  the  precious  ointment  upon  the  head 
of  Christ.  "And  Jesus  said  unto  them,  Let  her  alone. 
"W  hy  trouble  ye  her  ?  She  hath  wrought  a  good  work. 
For  ye  have  the  poor  with  you  always  5  and  whenso- 
ever ye  will,  ye  may  do  them  good  ;  but  me  ye  have 
not  always.  She  hath  dorte  what  she  could.  She 
hath  come  beforehand  to  annoint  my  body  to  the  bury- 
ing. Verily,  I  say  unto  you,  wheresoever  this  gospel 
shall  be  preaclied,  throughout  the  whole  world,  this 
also  that  she  hath  done,  shall  be  spoken  of  for  a  me- 
morial  of  her." 

The  Saviour  most  graciously  noticed  and  commend- 
ed her  service ;  and  declared  that  it  should  be  held  in 
everlasting  remembrance.  How  deeply  must  these 
disciples  have  felt  the  reproof  I  Well  might  they  hide 
their  faces  in  confusion,  not  only  for  neglecting  to  do, 


s 

themselves,  a  work  which  was  done  by  this  woman, 
hut  for  murmuring  that  it  was  done  by  her.  Her  love 
to  the  Sawour  was  more  ardent,  more  operative,  than 
theirs.  How  happy  must  she  have  been,  not  only  in 
performing  a  deed,  which  was  prompted  by  affection, 
but  in  being  assured,  that  in  performing  it,  she  met 
the  gracious  approbation  of  her  Saviour. 

In  this  effort  to. honor  Christ,  she  exerted  herself  to 
the  extent  of  her  ability.  She  did  what  she  could. — 
All  this  it  was  incumbent  on  her  to  do.  Had  she 
done  less,  she  would  have  neglected  duty,  and  failed 
to  secure  the  full  approbation  of  the  Saviour. 

I  observe  therefore,  that  they  who  do  what  they  can 
for  Christ,  perfovm  their  reasonable  duty,  and  are  sure 
to  meet  his  approbation. 

No  one,  it  is  perfectly  obvious,  can  perform  the  par- 
ticular service,  referred  to  in  the  text ;  or  do  auy  thing 
for  Christ,  as  directly  aud  as  personally,  as  in  that  in- 
stance. But  they  may  do  things,  equally  important 
and  equally  acceptable.  Those  things  are  done  for 
him  which  are  done  for  the  promotion  of  his  cause ; 
and  his  cause  is  promoted,  by  the  triumphs  of  his 
grace,  in  the  salvation  of  sinners. 
I  would  mention, 

1st.  What  men  can  do  for  Christ. 

And  here  I  would  insist,  that  the  first  thing  to  be 
done  by  every  one,  is  to  become  friendly  to  him,  aud 
attached  to  the  interests  of  his  kingdom  ;  to  submit  to 
his  authority  and  comply  with  the  terms  of  salvation ; 
and  in  this  way  enter  into  his  service. 

Having  done  this,  one  is  prepared  to  do  other 
things.     As  it  respects  particulars,    different    persons 


9 

t  ah  ilo  different  things.  All  can  do  something.  God 
lias  so  arranged  the  system,  by  which  his  purposes  of 
grace  are  to  be  accomplished,  that  there  are  many  de- 
partments of  service  ;  and  the  parts  are  apportioned 
and  distributed,  according  to  the  abilities  of  different 
persons.  Every  christian  should  ascertain  his  duty  ; 
and  were  he  to  make  tikis  a  matter  of  prayer,  and  like 
Paul  put  the  question,  "Lord  what  wilt  thou  have  me 
to  do,"  he  would  be  likely  to  know  the  kind  of  service 
which  belongs  to  him. 

There  are  some  things  which  all  can  do.  All  can 
pray,  T4iey  can  repair  to  a  throne  of  grace,  and  plead 
with  God  for  a  blessing  to  descend,  both  upon  their 
own  efforts  and  the  efforts  of  others.  They  can  plead 
for  the  out-pouring  of  the  Spirit ;  and  for  the  revival 
of  religion,  in  their  own  hearts  and  in  the  hearts  of  all 
the  children  of  God.  They  can  plead  for  the  conver- 
sion of  sinners,  in  the  societies  to  which  they  belong, 
and  throughout  the  christian  world.  They  can  plead 
for  the  diffusion  and  success  of  the"  gospel  among 
the  heathen. 

With  pity  and  benevolence,  they  will  contemplate 
the  six  hundred  millions  of  heathen,  who  are  living 
and  dying  without  the  consolations  and  hopes  of  the 
gospel;  and  they  will  earnestly  plead  their  cause  at 
the  throne  of  mercy.  They  will  plead  for  the  prosper- 
ity of  Bible  and  Missionary  Societies,  and  of  all  those 
institutions,  which  have  for  their  object,  the  conversion 
of  a  world  lying  in  wickedness.  They  will  pray  the 
Lord  of  the  harvest  to  send  forth  more  laborers  into 
his  harvest.  They  will  plead  with  him  to  repair  the 
waste  places  :  to  build  the  walls  of  Jerusalem ;  to  do 


10 

good  iii  his  good  pleasure  to  Zion.  Nor  should  they 
keep  silence  or  give  him  any  rest,  till  he  establish  and 
till  he  make  Jerusalem  a  praise  in  the  earth. 

This  is  one  thing,  which  all  the  friends  of  Christ  can 
do.  for  the  promotion  of  his  cause. 

They  can  also  contribute  of  their  worldly  substance. 
JLU  can  contribute  something. 

The  plea  of  poverty,  is  often  made*  when  they,  who 
make  it,  have  actually  more  ability  than  Mary  had. 
She  felt  the  claims  of  justice  and  gratitude,  and  there- 
fore did  not,  could  not  make  this  plea.  But  there  arc 
those,  whose  hearts  are  not  sufficiently  influenced  by 
these  claims  to  overcome  their  feelings  of  covetous- 
ness.  They  do  not  object  that  other*  give.  They 
profess,  highly  to  approve  religious  objects  of  char- 
ity, and  are  not  found  among  those,  who  set  up  the 
heartless  complaint  about  the  poor.  No ;  they  would 
have  the  cause  of  Christ  promoted.  They  would 
have  the  light  of  the  gospel  sent  to  the  benighted 
millions  of  Adam's  race.  And  they  will  talk  largely 
upon  the  subject — and  even  jir ay  fervently,  in  words 
at  least ;  but  this  is  all  they  can  do.  Their  circum- 
stances will  not  permit  them  io  give  any  thing.  They 
must  support  their  families,  and  pay  their  debts.  This 
plea  is  often  made  ;  and  made  too,  by  the  rich*  as  well 
as  by  the  poor.  Or  at  least  by  those,  who  indulge 
their  pride,  their  taste  and  their  ease,  to  a  degree, 
which  does  not,  by  any  means,  indicate  very  distress- 
ing poverty;  or  a  very  wakeful  solicitude  for  the 
claims  of  their  creditors. 

It  is,  after  all,  the  plea  of  covetousness  and  avarice  5 
aa-d  is  as  common  as  indifference  to  the  gospel.,  and 


11 

••  as  old  as  the  lust  of  lucre."  It  is  yourjduty  to  sup. 
port  your  families  aud  pay  your  debts ;  hut  remember, 
it  is  your  duty  also,  to  honor  Christ  with  a  portion  of 
your  substance.  And  think  not,  that  the  plea  of  pov 
erty  and  of  justice  to  others,  will  he  admitted  as  your 
excuse,  in  neglecting  the  cause  of  Christ,  while  it  is 
not  sufficiently  sincere  to  prevail  with  you  to  maintain 
habits  of  industry,  economy  and  self-denial. 

Let  there  be  consistency  in  your  conduct,  and  we 
shall  believe,  there  is  sincerity  in  your  professions. — 
There  are  many,  who  can  do  much  for  Christ  and  foi 
souls,  by  their  contributions  ;  and  of  this  they  would 
be  convinced,  and  the  conviction  would  produce  corre- 
sponding efforts,  should  they  prayerfully  ponder  upon 
the  subject,  and  yield  to  the  constraining  influence  of 
the  love  of  Christ.  But  it  is  acknowledged,  that  some 
can  do,  in  this  way,  but  comparatively  little.  God  in 
his  wise  providence,  has  withheld  from  them  the 
means ;  and  they  are  able  to  contribute  only  their  few 
mites  ;  and  these  they  should  contribute,  as  occasions 
offer. 

And  here  1  would  observe,  that  all  who  contribute, 
should  regulate,  as  far  as  practicable,  the  time  and  the 
amount  of  their  contributions,  by  a  system.  It  is  not 
sufficient  that  men  occasionally  give,  and  that  they  give 
from  the  impulse  of  those  feelings,  which  may  be  ex- 
cited for  the  moment,  by  the  appeals,  perhaps,  of  hint 
who  addresses  them,  and  not  by  the  importance  of 
the  object  to  be  promoted.  They  should  conscien- 
tiously and  deliberately  determine,  how  much  they 
ought  to  consecrate  to  Christ,  taking  into  considera 
tion  the  different  objects  which  claim  their  aid  :  and 
resolve  to  do  every  thing  systematically. 


Let  every  church  and  parish  become  a  charitable 
society  ;  or  let  all  the  benevolent  individuals  in  the 
church  and  parish,  form  themselves  into  an  associa- 
tion: and  let  each  member  bind  himself  to  give,  at  stat- 
ed times,  a  specified  amount,  as  God  shall  have  pros- 
pered him  ;  and  in  this  way,  do  all  that  he  can. 
Were  all  christians  to  adopt  this  method,  more  would 
be  given; — and  it  would  be  given  more  judiciously  ; 
and  with  feelings  more  profitable  to  the  donors.  These 
feelings  would  be  formed  into  a  settled  principle  of 
benevolence.  Giving,  would  assume  more  of  the  form 
and  the  features  of  a  regular,  necessary  business. 

Were  all  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  adopt 
such  a  system,  the  gospel  would  soon  be  preached  to 
every  creature. 

Were  all  the  christians  in  this  State,  to  adopt  such 
a  system ;  were  they  to  do  all  that  they  could,  the 
several  benevolent  institutions  amongst  us  would  be 
amply  supported,  and  the  two  hundred  thousands  now 
destitute  of  a  preached  gospel,  would  soon  be  furnish- 
ed with  a  supply.  The  Maine  Missionary  Society 
would  then  have  a  far  more  widely  extended  operation. 
In  its  capacity,  as  a  Society,  considering  its  means, 
it  has  done  what  it  could  ;  and  it  has  doue  much  ; 
much  to  build  the  waste  places ;  much  to  make  the 
wilderness  bud  and  blossom.  And  it  has  high  claims 
upon  the  public  gratitude.  Nor  is  this  all ;  it  has 
high  claims  upon  the  public  patronage. 

While  laudable  exertions  are  made  by  the  people 
of  this  State,  to  educate  pious  young  men  for  the. gos- 
pel ministry — let  not  this  Society  be  so  neglected,  that 
its  means  will  not  be  suntcient  to  give  employment 


18 

to  such  ministers,  as  shall  offer  their  services — and 
as  are  needed,  and  would  be  retained  in  feeble  so- 
cieties, if  the  requisite  assistance  could  be  afforded.  I 
am  satisfied,  that  greater  exertions  should  be  made  to 
educate  young  men  for  the  ministry ;  but  I  am  also 
satisfied,  that  unless  greater  support  is  given  to  the 
Missionary  Society,  the  benefits  anticipated  from  the 
increase  of  preachers,  will  not  be  realized. 

Let  then  the  claims  of  this  Society  be  deeply  felt 
and  acknowledged.  Let  every  one  contribute  for  its 
support.  Aud  while  he  does  this,  let  him  also  con- 
tribute for  the  support  of  other  benevolent  institutions  ; 
and  let  him  in  this  way,  do  all  that  he  can. 

But  there  are  other  ways,  in  which  men  can  promote 
the  cause  of  Christ  and  the  salvation  of  souls,  than  by 
contributing  of  their  worldly  substance. 

Such  as  possess  the  pecuniary  means,  and  render 
pecuniary  assistance,  cannot  excuse  themselves  from 
ether  services ;  and  such  as  are  destitute  of  these 
means,  will  rejoice,  if  they  love  the  Saviour,  in  having 
the  opportunity  and  the  privilege,  of  promoting  ids 
cause,  in  some  other  way,  and  by  the  employment  of 
such  means  as  they  possess. 

They  who  have  the  time  and  the  talents,  can  greatly 
benefit  others,  by  giving  them  religious  instruction.  1 
do  not  uow  refer  to  the  public  preachers  of  the  gospcL 
They,  it  is  true,  are  under  the  most  solemn  obligations, 
to  do  all  that  they  can  in  this  way — to  be  instant  in 
season  and  out  of  season — in  proclaiming  the  gospel, 
and  in  beseeching  men  in  Christ's  stead  to  be  recon 
ciled  to  God. — I  refer  to  private  christians.  They  can 
give  religious  instruction.     Many  can  be  employed  in 


14 

leaching  the  rising  generation,  the  things  which  con- 
cern the  honor  of  Christ  and  the  salvation  of  their 
sonls. 

Sabbath  Schools  furnish  an  opportunity  for  those  of 
this  description,  to  present  their  offering.  Whatever 
be  their  means  in  other  respects,  here  they  may  labor 
with  advantage  and  acceptance.  Though  God  may 
have  withheld  from  them  the  silver  and  the  gold,  yet 
they  may  in  this  service,  present  an  offering,  equally 
precious — equally  acceptable. 

Some  can  promote  the  cause  of  Christ,  by  animat- 
ing christians  in  their  duty,  and  exciting  them  to  the 
more  faithful  performance  of  good  works  ;  and  es- 
pecially, by  warning  sinners  of  their  danger,  and  per- 
suading them  to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer, 
and  secure  the  salvation  of  their  souls.  Will  any  of 
you  plead  as  an  excuse,  that  your  talents  are  small? 
But  you  can  use  what  talents  you  have ;  and  this  is 
all  that  is  required  of  you. — Will  you  plead,  that  you 
have  no  influence  ?  This  plea  is  false.  Every  chris- 
tian has  influence,  in  his  appropriate  sphere  ;  and  can 
exert  it  with  effect,  upon  some,  at  least,  of  those  with 
whom  ho  is  intimate.  You  can  go  to  your  unconverted 
neighbors  and  friends  and  relatives,  and  press  upon 
their  attention  the  importance  of  this  cause  and  the 
worth  of  their  souls  ;  and  apprize  them  of  their  guilt 
and  danger,  and  beseech  them  to  become  reconciled 
to  God. 

This  you  can  do  with  earnestness  and  perseverance, 
yet  with  prudence.  And  you  can  so  deport  yourselves, 
as  to  convince  them  that  what  you  say,  is  a  most  sol- 
emn and  interesting  reality.     Every  christian;  should 


15 

become,  iu  effect,  a  preacher  and  a  missionary ;  and 
use  his  utmost  exertions,  as  propriety  and  faithfulness 
shall  dictate,  for  the.  conversion  of  those,  ft  hose  con- 
nection with  him  is  such,  as  to  give  him  influence  over 
them.  Were  all  Christiana  to  do  this  ;  were  they  to 
strive  in  good  earnest,  for  the  conversion  of  their  un- 
godly associates,  connections  and  friends,  there  would 
be,  in  almost  every  christian  Society,  a  general  enqui- 
ry— "'What  must  we  do  to  be  saved  ?"  Sinners, 
iu  great  numbers,  would  be  brought  into  the  kingdom 
of  Christ ;  and  thus  his  cause  would  be  most  effectu- 
ally promoted. 

This  is  what  all  christians  can  do ;  whether  rich  or 
poor  ;  whether   learned  or   unlearned.     And    as  wo 
have  seen  they  can  also  pray ;   and  contribute  of  their 
worldly  substance,  as  God  has  given  them  ability. 
1  observe, 

2.  That  it  is  the  reasonable  duty  of  men  to  do  what 
they  can  for  the  cause  of  Christ. 

This  cause,  as  we  have  seen,  involves  the  glory  of 
God,  and  the  salvation  of  precious  and  immortal  souls, 
Here  are  interests  of  unutterable  iiqwrtance.  Inter- 
ests, compared  with  which,  every  wrorldly  coucern 
sinks  into  entire  worthlessness.  These  interests  will 
continue  to  be  important,  when  this  miserable  world 
shall  be  burnt  up,  and  when  all  earthly  scenes  shall 
vanish  away.  And  surely,  it  is  the  duty  of  men  to 
estimate  objects  by  their  importance,  and  to  apportion 
their  services  accordingly.  The  cause,  which  it  is 
oui  duty  to  promote,  is  infinitely  dear  to  Christ.  His 
heart  is  coustantly  fixed  upon  it,  with  the  utmost  in- 
tenseness  and  delight.     Its  importance  is  such  as  jusl 


iG 

ly  to  claim  all  that  creatures  can  do.  A  "partial  effort, 
or  an  effort  that  is  not  measured  by  the  full  extent  of  the 
power  which  is  possessed,  leaves  the  man  who  makes 
it,  under  the  guilt  of  neglecting  duty.  Christ  meas- 
ures our  duty  by  our  ability.  The  man  of  wealth  may 
give  much  ;  but  if  he  does  not  give  what  he  cant  he 
is  deficient  in  duty.  It  is  not  the  amount  of  his  dona- 
tion, considered  in  itself,  but  its  amount,  considered  in 
reference  to  his  ability,  that  determines  the  extent  of 
his  duty.  The  same  principle  holds  true,  in  applica- 
tion to  other  departments  of  service.  And  besides,  a 
man  may  proceed  to  the  full  extent  of  his  ability  in 
one  department,  and  still  be  guilty,  if  he  neglects  to  do 
what  he  can  in  other  departments. 

Considering  our  relation  to  Christ,  our  dependence 
and  obligations,  no  one  can  deny  his  claim  to  all  our 
services.     He  reasonably  requires  us  to  do  what  we 
can.     He  created  us  for  himself.    Yea,  the  world  was 
created  by  and  for  him,  and  it  was  created  and  is  kept 
in  existence  and  operation,  for  the  manifest  purpose  of 
promoting  this  cause.     It  was  designed  as  a  theatre, 
on  which  there  should  be  exhibited  the  wonders   of 
his  grace.     1  say,  he  created  us ;  not  only  so,  but  he 
redeemed  us.     And  this  he  did  by  shedding  his   own 
blood.     It  is   an  affecting  consideration   that   such  a 
price  should  be  paid  for  our  ransom.     "  We  were  not 
redeemed  with  corruptible  things,  as  silver  and  gold, 
but  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ."     And  is  it  too 
much  to  give  him  all  that  we  have ;  our  whole  hearts 
and  services  ?     Here  are  the  claims   of  gratitude,  as 
well  as  of  justice.     These  claims  should  penetrate  our 
Stiuhy  and  inspire  us  with  love  to  Christ,  and  to  the  per- 


47 

ishing  millions  for  whom  lie  died;  and  call  into  exer- 
tion, all  the  means  of  which  we  are  possessed. 

Consideration*  like  these,  influenced  Mary  to  do 
what  she  could.  They  should  influence  us  to  go  and 
do  likewise. 

It  is  our  duty  to  become  sincerely  attached  to  his 
interests,  to  engage  in  every  benevolent  service, 
which  offers  itself,  and  do  as  much  af  our  means  will 
permit.  Whatever  objects  we  select,  (and  in  making 
the  selection,  we  must  regard  the  station  and  circum- 
stances, in  which  Providence  has  placed  us ;)  and  in 
whatever  way  we  contribute  to  the  promotion  of  such 
objects ;  one  thing  we  must  not  forget,  that  it  is  our 
duty — our  reasonable  duty,  to  do  all  that  we  can. 

This  duty  is  binding  on  all  of  Adam's  race ;  upon 
all  for  u  hom  the  Saviour  died.  And  of  these,  none 
are  under  stronger  obligations,  than  females.  They 
should  imitate  the  example  of  her,  who  poured  the 
ointment  upon  the  head  of  Christ.  They  should  do 
what  they  can  for  the  promotion  of  his  precious  cause. 
Neither  delicacy  nor  duty  forbids  them  to  enter  the 
field  of  benevolent  enterprize.  And  as  it  respects  the 
claims  of  graHtu.de,  who  shall  be  influenced  to  honor < 
Christ,  if  not  females  ?  Who  so  indebted  to  him  and 
his  gospel,  as  they  ?  It  was  one  benevolent  design 
of  the  religion  of  Jesus,  to  elevate  the  female  charac- 
ter; and  to  secure  a  multitude  of  blessings,  which 
were  before  considered,  as  belonging  exclusively,  to 
the  other  sex.  This  design  has  been  accomplished, 
wherever  his  religion  has  prevailed. 

In  all  christian  countries,  how  different  the  condi- 
tion of  females,  from  what  it  is  among  the  heathen,  or 


even  ainoug  the  Jews  !  How  much  more  highly  and 
justly  is  their  character  estimated  !  With  how  muck 
more  respect  and  tenderness  are  they  treated  !  For 
all  this,  they  are  indebted  to  Christ.  They  are  in- 
debted fro  him,  not  only  for  the  hopes  of  salvation,  in 
common  with  others,  but  for  that  exalted  rank  which 
they  hold  in  society,  and  for  that  kindness  and  affection 
from  others,  to  which,  it  is  acknowledged  by  all,  they 
are  entitled.  Where  the  gospel  of  Christ  is  not 
known,  females  are  degraded  and  wretched.* 

Under  what  peculiar  obligations  then,  are  they  to 
the  Saviour.  With  what  lively  gratitude  and  love 
should  they  regard  him.  How  solicitous  should  they 
be,  to  make  some  suitable  returns  to  him,  for  all  I  is 
Condescension  and  merciful  kindness  to  them.  And 
in  what  Way  can  they  do  this  so  effectually,  after  giv- 
ing him  their  hearts,  as  to  impart  the  blessings  of  this 
gospel  to  others  ?  There  are  many  who  do  feel  the  force 
of  these  obligations  ; — many  who  have  given  him  their 
hearts  and  their  services.  There  are  such  among  my 
hearers  ;  there  are  many  such  throughout  the  State. 
And  to  them,  the  Maine  Missionary  Society  is  greatly 
indebted.  The  amount  of  their  donations,  compared 
with  the  donations  of  others,  and  compared  with  their 
means,  if  it  could  be  known,  would  both  gratify  and1 
surprise  those,  who  have  not  attentively  considered 
the  subject. — An  exact  record  of  their  deeds  of  benevo- 
lence has  not  been  kept  upon  earth  ;  but  such  a  re- 
cord is  kept  in  heaven.     And  1  conceive  it  is  proper 

*  What  an  ungrateful  creature  then— how  ba^e  and  monstrous— is  a  fe- 
male infidel ;  a  female  scoffer  and  reviler  of  Christ ;  a  female  opposer  of 
missions 


19 

on  this  occasion,  to  make  this  particular  mention,  as  & 
memorial  of  them  ;  and  for  doing  it,  1  plead  the  ex- 
ample of  Christ,  as  presented  to  ns  in  the  text. —  And 
I  observe  further;  that  among  females,  Christ  has 
probably  a  greater  number  of  friends,  than  among  the 
other  sex.  Ever  since  he  came  into  the  world,  he  has 
found  among  them  many  of  his  most  ardent,  devoted 
followers;  whose  attachment  lias  been  expressed  and 
tested,  by  services  cheerfully  reudered,  and  by  sacri- 
fices cheerfully  submitted  to. 

At  the  time  of  his  crucifixion,  none  felt  a  more  ten- 
der solicitude,  than  his  female  disciples.  Prompted 
by  sorrow,  by  gratitude  and  love,  they  followed  him 
to  Calvary ;  that  they  might  witness  the  august  and 
affecting  scene  of  his  cruel  death  ;  and  this  they  did, 
at  the  time,  when  his  other  disciples  forsook  him  and 
fled. 

They  were  the  first  to  visit  the  sepulchre  ;  they  the 
first  to  announce  his  resurrection. 

In  all  subsequent  periods,  they  have  been  among  the 
foremost,  to  express  their  friendship  and  affection,  in 
those  works  of  benevolence,  which  are  designed  to 
honor  the  Saviour,  and  to  diffuse  the  blessings  of  his 
religion  among  the  destitute  and  ignorant.  They  have 
been  willing  to  forego  many  of  the  blessings  of  civiliz- 
ed life,  the  endearments  of  home  and  of  their  native 
land,  to  encounter  danger  and  even  death  ;  that  they 
might  glorify  his  precious  name,  and  make  known  his 
grace  among  the  heathen.  And  this  shall  be  told  as  a. 
memorial  of  them. 

They  have  felt  it  their  duty  to  do  what  they  could. 
This  was  their  duty ;  and,  my  hearers,  it  is  the  duty  qf 


£0 

all.  No  one,  whether  male  or  female,  whether  rich 
or  poor,  whether  bond  or  free,  can  plead  an  exemption. 
I  observe, 

3.  That  they  who  thus  perform  their  duty,  in  doing 
what  they  can  for  Christ,  will  be  sure  of  meeting  his 
approbation.  He  did  graciously  approve  of  the  good 
work  which  Mary  wrought.  He  would  not  suffer  it 
to  pass  without  commendation  ;  and  it  was  faithfully 
recorded  in  his  book  of  remembrance.  All  who  do  as 
she  did— who  do  what  they  can  for  Christ,  shall  be 
treated  by  him  in  like  manner. 

In  requiring  his  rational  creatures  to  do  all  they  can, 
Christ  only  requires  of  them,  a  reasonable  service  ; 
and  as  he  is  a  reasonable  Being,  he  will  assuredly  be- 
stow his  approbation  upon  those,  who  comply  with  his 
requirements. 

He  is  gracious  as  well  as  reasonable.  With  aston- 
ishing, unbounded  kindness  and  love,  will  he  regard 
those,  who  attach  themselves  to  his  interests,  and  do 
what  they  can,  for  the  glory  of  his  name  and  the  salva- 
tion of  souls.  Yes,  my  hearers,  though  you  do  but 
little,  yet  if  it  is  all  that  you  can  do,  you  will  be  ac- 
cepted and  approved.  Your  offering  will  be  regarded 
in  the  same  light,  as  were  the  poor  widow's  mites. — 
"  For  if  there  be  first  a  willing  mind,  it  is  accepted, 
according  to  that  a  man  hath,  and  not  according  to  that 
he  hath  not."  If  you  do  what  you  can  in  giving  your 
hearts  to  him,  you  will  receive  his  free  forgiveness — 
his  gracious  acceptance.  If  you  do  what  you  can  by 
your  prayers,  your  contributions  and  other  exertions, 
to  adorn  and  support  the  gospel  among  yourselves,  and 
to  extend  its  blessings  to  the  destitute  and  wretched  ; 


iii  a  word,  if  you  do  what  is  your  most  reasonable  du- 
ty, to  honor  his  great  name,  a  ad  promote  that  blessed 
cause,  which  is  so  dear  to  Ids  heart,  he  will  most  cer- 
tainly and  most  graciously  approve  your  service. — 
A  book  of  remembrance  shall  be  written,  in  which  he 
will  carefully  record  your  names,  and  you  shall  be  his, 
in  the  day  when  he  maketh  up  his  jewels.  Lie  has 
always  accepted  and  rewarded  the  reasonable  service, 
which  has  been  performed  for  him.  To  all  who  have 
done  what  they  could  ;  he  has  promptly  extended  his 
approbation.  None  of  his  servants  have  accused  him 
of  being  a  hard  Master.  Upon  all  his  devoted  fol- 
lowers who  have  left  the  world,  he  has  pronounced 
the  benediction  ;  "  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  ser- 
vant, enter  ye  into  the  joy  of  your  Lord." 

My  hearers,  are  there  not  sufficient  inducements  to 
do  all  that  you  can  for  Christ?  Who  would  not  de- 
sire to  meet  the  approbation  of  his  Saviour  and  Judge? 
What  greater  blessedness,  than  to  enjoy  an  assurance 
and  a  consciousness  of  having  his  smiles  and  his  com- 
mendation? What  greater  enjoyment  in  this  world, 
than  to  be  engaged  in  the  promotion  of  that  blessed 
cause,  which  he  loves,  and  which  involves  the  honor 
of  his  name  and  the  salvation  of  immortal  souls?  In 
what  should  we  engage,  if  not  in  such  a  cause  as  this  ? 
For  whom  should  we  live,  if  not  for  Christ? — There 
is,  moreover,  every  encouragemp.it  to  exertion.  Oth- 
ers, in  gi  eat  numbers,  are  engaged.  We  shall  have 
their  countenance  and  co-operation.  The  cause  will 
prevail.  There  is  the  promise  of  success.  The 
prophecies  concerning  it,  uust  be  fulfilled.  Yes — and 
they    are   nowr  fulfilling  with  wonderful  rapidity. 


%2 

Friends  ami  followers  of  lmmamiel,  take  courage. 
Animating  are  the  signs  of  the  times.  Unexampled 
efforts,  have  been  made  within  a  few  years,  to  send  the 
word  of  life  to  distant,  benighted  nations.  Men  have 
been  found,  who  were  willing  to  become  champions  of 
the  cross  and  heralds  of  the  gospel ;  and  have  gone 
forth,  in  the  strength  of  Him,  who  is  the  Captain  of 
their  salvation.  1  hey  have  planted  the  Standard  of 
their  Redeemer  amid  hosts  of  spiritual  adversaries  ; 
and  waved  the  banner  of  the  cross  over  the  battle- 
ments of  the  enemy. 

The  blessed  cause,  I  say,  will  triumph.  And  in  its 
triumph,  will  be  involved,  not  only  the  salvation  of  its 
friends,  but  the  destruction  of  its  enemies. 

My  hearers,  on  which  side  are  you  engaged  ? — 
For  what  purpose  and  to  what  end  do  you  live  ? 

Compared  with  this  great  concern,  the  prosperity 
of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  every  other  interest,  is 
mere  vanity ;  and  will  soon  be,  as  though  it  had  not 
been. 

How  dreadful  to  live  and  die,  as  though  this  world 
were  your  only  home  and  portion  !  How  dreadful  to 
live  and  die,  as  though  there  were  no  Saviour  to  be 
served  and  honored,  and  no  souls  to  be  saved  !  How 
dreadful  to  take  the  attitude  of  opposition,  and  to  hin- 
der the  progress  of  this  precious  cause  !  Such  will  at 
last  meet  the  wrath  of  the  Lamb. 

"  And  such  as  dare  despise  my  name, 
"  I'll  clothe  them  with  eternal  shame." 

My  hearers,  soou  the  night  cometh,  when  no  man 
can  work.  Soon  we  must  give  an  account  of  our  stew- 
ardship.   And  what  account  are  we  prepared  to  give  ? 


23 

What  have  we  done  for  Christ,  and  lor  souls  that  are1 
perishing?  Let  each  one  put  the  question  to  himself, 
Have  1  done  what  I  could?  This  question  will  be 
put,  at  the  great  day,  to  every  one,  by  his  own  con- 
science and  by  his  Judge;  Hast  thou  done  what 
thou  couldst?  How  many  will  this  question  cover 
with  confusion  !  Let  me  put  the  question  to  you  now  ; 
Have  you  done  what  you  could?  Some  of  you  have 
done  many  things  to  oppose  Christ,  and  resist  the  oper- 
ations of  his  grace.  Many  of  you  have  done  what 
you  could  to  establish  a  righteousness  of  your  own. 
But  have  you  done  what  you  could  to  promote  the 
salvation,  either  of  your  own  souls  or  the  souls  of  oth- 
ersj  and  to  reflect  honor  upon  the  precious  name  of 
Christ? 

Let  me  ask  those  who  hope  they  are  the  friends  of 
the  Saviour ;  how  much  have  you  done  for  him,  who 
loved  you  and  icashed  you  from  your  sins,  in  his  own 
blood  ?  How  much  have  you  done  for  the  souls  that 
are  as  precious  as  your  own,  and  that  are  now  involv- 
ed in  all  that  guilt  and  condemnation,  from  which  sove- 
reign grace,  as  you  hope,  has  rescued  yours  ?—  Have 
you  done  all  that  you  could?  all  that  gratitude,  all 
that  justice  required  ? 

Oh  how  much  unfaithfulness,  how  much  neglect  of 
duty  !  Nothing  short  of  that  blood,  which  was  shed 
for  the  remission  of  sins,  can  wash  away  the  guilt,  even 
of  christians.  Look  to  this  blood  for  pardon,  and  re- 
solve to  be  faithful.  Let  the  love  of  Christ  constrain 
yon. 

My  impenitent  hearers,   in  this  great  concern,  and 
*t  this  remarkable  period,  what  part  will  you  act  ?   (), 


24 

which  side  will  you  engage  ?  While  God  is  pouring 
out  his  Spirit,  and  performing  his  wonders  of  love  and 
mercy  ;  while  so  many  are  coming  over  on  the  Lord's 
side,  and  rejoicing  in  his  great  salvation  ;  will  you 
remain  under  the  bondage  of  sin  and  death  ?  Will 
you  not  join  them,  and  9harewith  them,  their  joys  and 
their  hopes  ? 

While  others  are  engaged  in  extending  the  tri- 
umphs of  the  cross,  shall  the  sins  and  follies  of  this 
miserable  world  absorb  your  hearts,  and  shut  the 
doors  of  heaven  against  you  ?  Can  you  consent  to  do 
nothing  for  the  Saviour,  and  nothhig  for  your  own 
souls  ? 

I  recommend  to  you  this  Saviour.  It  is  a  blessed 
truth — u  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  accepta- 
tion, that  he  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners." 
Flee  to  him  for  refuge.  Yes,  flee  to  him,  who  is  the 
sinner's  friend.  Submit  to  his  authority,  and  surren- 
der to  his  love.  Abandon  every  other  dependence, 
and,  feeling  yourselves  to  be  lost  and  ruined,  rely  upon 
the  merit  and  the  efficacy  of  that  blood,  which  was  shed 
upon  the  cross  to  redeem  you. 

May  we  all  surrender  ourselves  to  this  Saviour ; 
and  love  and  serve  him,  while  we  live.  For  he  is 
ivorthy.  Yes,  "  Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain, 
to  receive  power,  and  riches,  and  wisdom,  and  strength, 
and  honor,  and  glory,  and  blessing,"  forever  and  ever^ 

dMMJf< 


BX7146.M2A7  1823 

A  sermon  delivered  in  Portland,  June  25, 


Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library 


1    1012  00036  1727 


DNIMBIV 


OF  THE  TRUSTEES  OF  THE    MJLYE  MISS10JYJRY  SOCIETY, 
AT  PORTLAND,  JUNE  25,  1823. 


The  Trustees  of  the  Maine  Missionary  Society  would  congrat- 
ulate their  brethren  on  the  return  of  this  anniversary;  an  occa- 
sion on  which  they  are  permitted  to  recognize  many  mercies  from 
the  glorious  Head  of  the  Church,  in  the  support  of  this  and  other 
kinclred  institutions.  From  what  this  Society  has  been  enabled 
to  accomplish  from  year  to  year  ;  from  the  patronage  with  which 
it  has  been  favored  ;  and  from  the  confidence  with  which  it  is 
regarded  by  the  destitute  within  our  borders  ;  its  members  have 
abundant  reason  to  •  thank  God  and  take  courage.' 

The  Trustees  have  had  in  the  emplov  of  the    Society,   in   the 
ings  have  constantly  increased  in  number-.      In  Strong   ;ind    In 
dustry,  there  is  not  only  a  considerable  degree  of  seriousness   in 
general,  but  a  few  instances  of  anxious   inquiry."     While   Mi 
White  was  performing  his  missionary  servii  es,  there  was  a  Con 
;regational  society  formed  and  organized  at  Farmington,  consist- 
.ng  of  about  thirty  heads  of  families,  some  of  whom   were    among 
the  most  wealthy  and  influential  in  the  town.     The  society  voted 
to  raise  two  hundred  dollars,  and  the  people  ai  Strong  subscribed 
V little  more  than  one  hundred,   for   the   support    of  preaching; 
and  requested  Mr.  White,  after  journeying  west,  to    return    and 
jupply  them  the  ensuing  year.     But  as  he  was   engaged   by   the 
South  Parish  in  Bath  they  have  remained   destitute  from    March 
the  time  of  his  leaving  them,)  till    the    last  Sabbath  ;  when    tin 
-iev .  Jonathan  Burr,  gent  by  the  Massachusetts   'Missionary  So 
iety,  arrived  there  j  whois  to  continue  six  week.-.;  after  which 
ime,  they  expect  a  missionary  from  ihis  Society,  to  be  Btationed 
h  Farmington  and  vieinitj  ;  they  having  sufficient  funds  ahead . 
/>  continue  him  through  the  fear. 

The  Rev.  Jonathan  Bigelow  had  a  mission  of  twelve  and  a  half 
weeks  at  Lubec  and  vicinity  ;  and  Mr.  Henry  .1.  Merrill  of  i 
weeks  at  Columbia  and    Addison.    These   are  all    the   sei 
that  were  appointed  for  the  county  of  Washington  ;  a     th<     Ma  . 
sachusetts  vlissionary  Society  have  had,  for  two  or  three    years 
post, one  or  more  mis  lionaries  in  that  territory,  the  most  of"  t!  < 
time. 


time  of  refreshing  from  his  presence.  They  have  from  time  to 
tune,  and  lor  a  long  lime,  made  great  sacrifices  and  exertions  to 
support  the  Gospel,  and  are  willing  to  do  so.  They  propose  to 
nay  for  preaching  one  half  of  the  time,  that  is,  every  other  Sab- 
bath, and  to  have  society  meetings  on  the  other  Sabbaths,  except 
when  they  are  supplied  by  missionaries.  This,  considering  their 
small  numbers  and  want  of  means,  is  as  much  as  they  can  accom- 
plish. Within  the  year,  a  few  females  have  formed  themselves 
luto  a  cent  society,  and  transmitted  a  small  sum  to  aid  the  Maine 
Missionary  Society.  Two  Sabbath  schools  also  have  been  con- 
stantly attended  to,  and  a  considerable  number  of  youth  and 
«  hitdren  have  been  taught  in  the  things  which  belong  to  their 
peace." 

In  regard  to  Washington,  where  he  spent  the  remaining  part 
of  his  time,  Mr.  Lovejoy  remarks  :  "  The  state  of  things  the 
year  past  has  been  much  more  interesting,  than  1  ever  knew  it 
before;  and  the  prospect  of  eventually  establishing  the  Gospel 
ministry  here  is  promising.  The  Congregational  Church  has  re- 
ceived an  addition  of  ten  members  ;  and  an  equal  degree  of  addi- 
tional interest  and  feeling."  The  people  in  that  place  have  rais 
nd  by  subscription,  sufficient  to  continue  him  about  twice  as  lon^ 
as  he  has  been  with  them  as  a  missionary.  He  concludes  his 
journal,  by  saying:  "  1  have  as  much  reason,  perhaps,  to  suppose 
my  feeble  attempts  in  the  Gospel  have  been  blessed  in  this  town.. 
as  at  any  place  where  1  have  preached." 
r  ice-vu  mill  iur  reiuge.      At.-.,  ^o  .u  mm,  who  is  me 

sinner's  friend.  Submit  to  his  authority,  and  surren- 
der to  his  love.  Abandon  every  other  dependence, 
and,  feeling  yourselves  to  be  lost  and  ruined,  rely  upon 
the  merit  and  the  efficacy  of  that  blood,  which  was  shed 
upon  the  cross  to  redeem  you. 

May  we  all  surrender  ourselves  to  this  Saviour  $ 
and  love  and  serve  him,  while  we  live.  For  he  is 
worthy.  Yes,  "  Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain, 
to  receive  power,  and  riches,  and  wisdom,  and  strength, 
and  honor,  and  glory,  and  blessing,"  forever  and  ever. 

dMEJV. 


BX7146.M2A7  1823 

A  sermon  delivered  in  Portland,  June  i\>, 


Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library 


In  the  course  of  last  a  VIr.  Henry  T.    Kelley  and    Mr. 

Seneca  Tfnite,  were  engaged  as  missionaries,  each  for  the  term  ol 
twenty-four  weeks ;  the  former  was  stationed  in  the  county  ol 
Somerset,  and  the  latter  at  Farmington,  Strong  and  Industry,  in 
the  county  of  K.ennebe< . 

Mr.  Kelley  visited  arid  preached  in  almost  all  the  destitute 
places,  in  the  count)  of  Somerset  :  and  also  spent  a  few  Sabbath? 
in  Wilton  and  Temple,  in  the  county  of  Kennebec.  "  In  Tem- 
ple," he  remarks,  "  I  found  rather  more  attention  than  usual, 
amon  the  youth  ;  three  or  four  of  whom,  between  ten  and  fifteen 
years  <>!'  age,  I  hope,  hai  e  knov  n  by  experience  w  hal  it  is  to  pa  • 
from  death  unto  life."    In  the  course  ofhU  ■  he  "preach/i 

ed  one  hundred  and  fifteen  times,  attended  fifteen  conference 
and  prayer  meetings,  visited  .-ix  schools,  and  made  owe  hundred 
and  seventy-eight  family  visits.'? 

Mr.  \Viiii.'  spent  one  half  of  his  time,  that  i;,  every  othei  Sab 
bath,  at  Farmington,  and  the  other  half  of  his  time  was   equally 
divided  between  two  adjoining  towns,  Strong  and  Industry.     IK 
1  preached  one  huncfred  and  five    times,   attended    nine   church 
conferences,  three  prayer  meetings  and  four  funerals,  visited  eight 
schools,  and  made  one    bundled    and    nine    family    visits."'     "I 
have  not,"  he  states  in  his  journal,  "the  pleasure   to   say,   that 
there  lias  been  any  thing  like  a  special  revival  of  religion,    in  ei- 
ther of  these  towns  during  my  missionary  ■  ej  vi<  i  -  ;  vet  there  has 
been  an  increasing  attention  to  the  subject  of  religion,  and  meet- 
ings have  constantly  increased  in  number-.      In  Strong    and    In 
dustry,  there  is  not  only  a  considerable  degree  ot"  seriousness    in 
general,  but  a  few  instances   of  anxious    inquiry."     While    Ml 
White  was  performing  his  missionary  serv'u  es,  there  was  a  Con 
gregational  society  formed  and  organized  at  Farmington,  consist- 
ing of  about  thirty  heads  of  families,  Mine-  of  whom  wen'   among 
the  most  wealthy  and  influential  in  the  town.     The  society  voted 
to  raise  two  hundred  dollar.'-,  and  the  people  at  Strong  subscribed 
a  little  more  than  one  hundred,   for   the    support    of  preaching; 
and  requested  Mr.  White,  after  journeying  west,  to   return   and 
supply  them  the  ensuing  year.     But  as  he  was   engaged   by   the 
South  Parish  in  Bath  they  have  remained   destitute  from    March 
(the  time  of  his  leaving  them,)  till    the    last  Sabbath  ;  when    th« 
Rev.  Jonathan   Burr,  sent  by  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  So 
ciety,  arrived  there j  who-is  to  continue  six  weeks;  after   which 
time,  they  expect  a  missionary   from  this  Society,  to   !)<■  stationed 
in  Farmington  and  vicini'v  ;  they  having  sufficient  funds  ahead . 
to  continue  him  through  the  year. 

The  Rev.  Jonathan  Bigelow  had  a  mission  of  twelve  and  a  half 
weeks  at  Lubec  and  vicinity  :  and  Mr.  Henry  ./.  Merrill  of  i 
weeks  at  Columbia  and     Addison.     These    are   all    lie 
that  were  appointed  for  the  county  of  Washington ;  as   the   Mas 
sachusetts  >lissionary  Society  have  had,  for  two  or  three   years 
past,  one  or  more  mi   lionariet  In  that  territory,  th<  '    th< 

time. 


^ 


Mr.  Bi^elow,  who  is  settled  at  Lubec,  ami  whose  missionary 
services  were  assigned  to  that  (own,  except  occasional  labors  in 
the  adjacent  towns,  writes  :  "  The  promising  appearances  which 
I  have  heretofore  mentioned,  have  to  a  great  degree  subsided; 
some  who  were  then  awakened  have  become  hopeful  converts, 
and  others  have  relapsed  into  indifference.  The  Sabbath  school 
has  been  well  attended."  And  he  adds,  "The  meetings  in  this 
place  have  been  attended  quite  as  well  during  the  past  year,  as 
at  any  time  previous;  and  I  see  no  reason  for  discouragement  in 
regard  to  the  maintenance  of  the  ministry  among  them." 

Mr.  Merrill  writes,  under  dale  of  January  last  when  his  mis- 
sion was  closed  :  "  A  large  proportion  of  my  time  has  been  spent 
in  visits ;  I  have  preached  thirty-one  sermons,  attended  twelve  pray- 
er meetings,  two  funerals  and  one  conference.  The  monthly  con- 
cert of  prayer  was  attended  November  and  December,  for  the  first 
time,  in  Columbia  and  Addison.  There  is  much  want  of  religious 
instruction,  in  this  region.  In  Jonesboro',  Harrington,  Steuben, 
Gouldsboro',  and  Sullivan,"  (though  there  are  churches  of  differ- 
ent denominations,)  "  there  is  no  settled  minister,  nor  any  one 
among  them  who  preaches  constantly.  From  Ellsworth  to  Ma- 
chias,  a  space  of  sixty  miles,  and  including  eight  incorporated 
towns,  there  is  no  place  to  which  the  hungry  soul  may  resort, 
from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath,  for  the  bread  of  life."  Since  this  period, 
that  is,  in  April  last,  the  Trustees  received  a  communication  from 
the  Congregational  society  in  Sullivan,  in  which  they  state : 
"  Our  society  is  very  small  and  very  poor ;  our  church  consists 
only  of  nine  members.  We  have  had  no  regular  Congregational 
preaching  for  eight  or  nine  years.  We  have  now  one  hundred 
dollars,  which  is  devoted  to  pay  for  preaching,  and  can  collect 
perhaps  fifty  dollars  more.  But  we  will  do  all  we  can.  We 
wish  to  have  our  situation  taken  into  consideration  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  Missionary  Society,  and  if  they  can  send  us  a 
good  minister,  and  all  the  pecuniary  aid  they  think  we  deserve, 
compared  with  other  destitute  places,  we  shall  be  very  grateful 
for  it." 

At  the  conclusion  of  his  missionary  services  in  Washington 
county,  Mr.  Merrill  returned  West,  and  was  employed  by  the 
Congregation  at  Shapleigh,  over  which  he  has  since  been  ordain- 
ed as  Pastor,  with  the  expectation  of  employment,  as  a  mission- 
ary, in  that  vicinity,  for  some*  portion  of  the  year. 

The  Rev.  Lincoln  Ripley  had  a  mission  of  4  weeks  at  Albany ; 
Rev.  Amasa  Smith,  4  weeks  at  Fryeburg  and  vicinity  ;  Rev.  David 
Slarret,  12  1-2  weeks  at  Weld  and  vicinity;  and  Rev.  Charles 
Frost,  12  weeks  at  Gilead  :  all  in  the  county  of  Oxford. 

Mr.  Ripley,  though  he  spent  most  of  his  Sabbaths  in  Albany, 
yet  preached  in  the  three  adjoining  towns  and  plantations. 
[Greenwood,  Gilead  and  Bachelor's  Grant.]  Besides  preaching 
23  sermons,  he  visited,  in  these  places,  99  families,  embracing 
555  persons,  of  whom  48  were  professors  of  religion.     364  were 


*  h 


4  the  tfie  go  pel,  since  in>  leaving  them.  But  they  are  repre- 
sented as  being  feeble  as  to  means,  and  still  further  needing 
charitable  aid.  Mr.  \\  ilcox  Btatea  in  his  journal  :  '  A  iVv.  Sab- 
laths  previous  to  ray  entering  upon  the  miss  on,  the  Bacrament  of 

♦l»«JLonl\j  Supper  was  administered  tn  this  church,  and  three 
'  Rev.  1  nomas  Mums  had  an  appointment  of  12  weeks  at  L-nu- 
i  ton.  It  is  a  place,  where  he  has  Heretofore  labored,  and  "here 
they  contribute  in  part  to  the  support  of  the  mission.  The  proa 
pert  of  the  establishment  of  the  gospel  there,  at  least  tor  a  part 
of  the  year,  he  thinks  is  encouraging.  They  labor  under  the  in- 
convenience of  having  no  building  sufficiently  large,  to  accommo- 
date all  v, ho  wish  to  attend  worship;  which  inconvenience,  they 
hope,  ere  lon|  may  be  removed.  In  the  Journal  of  Mr.  Adams, 
it  is  stated  :  "The  last  Sabbath  that  I  passed  there,  we  had  the 
largest  assembly  1  have  ever  seen  in  that  place.  It  afforded  what 
I  consider  decisive  evidence,  that  they  do  wish  to  enjoy  the  min- 
istration of  the  gospel.  My  visit  to  that  place  was  rendered  still 
more  interesting,  by  the  indications  I  found  that  the  Spirit  of 
God  was  moving  upon  the  hearts  of  some  among  them.  The 
minds  of  many  are  evidently  solemnized,  and  some  are  led  with 
deep  interest  and  anxiety  to  enquire— What  shall  we  do:  It 
was,  on  several  accounts,  the  most  interesting  visit  I  ever  made 
to  that  place — I  am  more  and  more  convinced  of  the  importance 
ot  Clinton,  as  a  field  for  missionary  labor  :  and  I  am  disposed  to 
believe,  that  could  the  ministrations  of  the  gospel  be  established 
on  any  thing  like  a  permanent  basis,  there  would  be  at  least  a 
usual  degree  of  liberality  in  its  support." 

The  Trustees  commissioned  Mr.  Nathan  ll\  Sheldon  to  labor 
4  weeks  at  Brown vi lie  ;  Mr,  Thomas  T.  Stone,  6  weeks  at  Mun- 
son  ;  and  Mr.  Caleb  F.  Page,  8  weeks  at  Andover,  and  9  atSears- 
mon^and  vicinity.       __._  „  klIcll-  respective  spires  ...  ,  , 

The  trustees  have  satisfactory  evidence  of  the  prudence 
and  fidelity,  with  which  the  missionaries  have  performed  the 
various  services  assigned  then;.  And  though  no  extensive  re- 
vivals have  been  witnessed  in  the  course  of  their  labors;  yel  it 
may  be  confidently  asserted,  that  much  good  has  been  done. 
Weak  churches  have  been  strengthened,  and  where  there  was 
'a  famine  of  hearing  the  words  of  the  Lord,"  they  have  been 
fed.     A  very  general  and  unusual  attention  to  the  means  of  re 

in  has  been  excited  ;  and  in  many  places  some  sprinkling 
divine  grace;  (and  we  should  not  ''despise  the  day  of  small 
things  ;'";  some  Bprinklings  of  divine  .Mace  which  may  be  viewed 
IS  a  prelude  to  "an  abundance  of  rain  :"  i:ia\  be  viewed,  as  ■ 
pledge  from  Heaven,  that  God  will  command  his  blessing,  even 
life  forevermore. 

And  is  it  anj  ground  of  discouragement,    any  reason  for  dis- 
continuing missionary  efforts,  be   i  ise  there  ;-re  no  extensive  and 
srful  revivals  of  religion  within  the  limits  of  their  operation  ? 
pglecl  to  iari est  is  not  so  eai  h  i* 


30 

Mr.  Bigelow,  who  is  settled  at  Lubec,  and  whose  missionary 
services  were  assigned  to  that  town,  except  occasional  labors  in 
the  adjacent  towns,  writes  :  "  The  promising  appearances  which 
I  have  heretofore  mentioned,  have  to  a  great  degree  subsided  ; 
some  who  were  then  awakened  have  become,  hopeful  converts, 
*$e^fo!m7£7ngrc^m  had  a  mission  of  10 'week's,  \i\  tlie  vicini- 
ty of  Thomaston. 
Rev.  Jotham  SewaU,  10  weeks  at  Wilton  and  vicinity. 
Rev.  Josiah  Feet,  and  Rev.  Fijh/d  Holt,   4   weeks  each,  in  the 

county  of  Somerset. 
Rev.  Gardiner  KeUogg,  10  weeks  at  Strong  and  vicinity. 
Rev.  Jonathan  Belden,  16  weeks,  equally  apportioned  to  Wind- 
sor, Knox,  Putnam  and  Unity. 
Rev.  Stephen  Merrill,  7  weeks  at  Kittery. 
Rev.  Daniel  Kendrick,  6  weeks  at  Edgecomb. 
Rev.  Josiah  G.  Merrill,  4  weeks,  at  Raymond  and  vicinity,  the 

people  there  paying  one  half  of  the  expense 
Rev.  Samuel  Sewall,  two  weeks  at  Harpswell. 

Rev.  Mr.  Joms,  was  engaged  on  a  mission  of  12  weeks,  and  is 
now  but  just  entered  on  his  services  at  Limington, 

Mr.  Christopher  Marsh  had  an  appointment  of  four  weeks  at 
Scarborough,  and  six  at  Sand  ford,  the  people  in  the  latter  place, 
defraying  the  expenses  of  one  half  of  the  mission.     He  preached 
twenty -four  times,    made  nineteen  family  visits,  and.  distributed 
various   religious   tracts,    as   he  had   opportunity.     His  services 
were  evidently  well   received:  and,   as  he  stated,  "  great  exer- 
tions  were  made  to  frequent  public  worship,  and  very  solemn 
attention  under  Jhe  ministration  of  the  word."     After  his  mis- 
sionary services  hail  closed,  the  people  employed  him  as  a  candi- 
date, wave  him  a  unanimous  call  to  settle  with  them  ;  to  whose 
lv,r„<..v:,!  ca™  '•■>  nn.n  ^.ri»;«n.)  +1™  hflmnningr  of  the  present  month, 
meeting  of  the  Missionary  Society,  and  if  they  can  send   us  a 
good  minister,  and  all  the  pecuniary  aid  they  think  we  deserve, 
compared  with  other  destitute  places,  we  shall   be  very  grateful 
for  it." 

At  the  conclusion  of  his  missionary  services  in  Washington 
county,  Mr.  Merrill  returned  West,  and  was  employed  by  the 
Congregation  at  Shapleigh,  over  which  he  has  since  been  ordain- 
ed as  Pastor,  with  the  expectation  of  employment,  as  a  mission- 
ary, in  that  vicinity,  for  some*  portion  of  the  year. 

The  Rev.  Lincoln  Ripley  had  a  mission  of  4  weeks  at  Albany ; 
Rev.  Amasa  Smith,  4  Weeks  at  Fryeburg  and  vicinity  ;  Rev.  David 
Starret,  12  1-2  weeks  at  Weld  and  vicinity;  and  Rev.  Charles 
Frost,  12  weeks  at  Gilead  :  all  in  the  county  of  Oxford. 

Mr.  Ripley,  though  he  spent  most  of  his  Sabbaths  in  Albany, 
yet  preached  in  the  three  adjoining  towns  and  plantations. 
[Greenwood,  Gilead  and  Bachelor's  Grant.]  Besides  preaching 
23  sermons,  he  visited,  in  these  places,  99  families,  embracing 
555  persons,  of  whom  48  were  professors  of  religion.     364  were 


>l 

of  the  tKe  gospel,  Bince  his  leaving  (hem.  But  they  art!  repre- 
sented as  being  feeble  as  to  means,  and  siill  further  needing 
charitable  aid.  Mr.  Wilcox  states  in  his  journal :  '  A  few  Sab- 
baths previous  t<>  my  entering  upon  the  mission,  the  Bacrament  of 
the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  to  this  church,  and  three 
were  added  to  their  number.  Since  thai  time  lour  or  five  hope 
ful  cases  of  convi  reion  have  occurred."  These  had  not  attached 
thems<  Ives  to  any  particular  church. 

Mr.  Mdiiriu  Cory  spenl  four  weeks  in  the  employment  of  this 
Society  at  Poland  and  vicinity;  and  Mr.  James  Weslon\  seven- 
teen weeks  at  Pitt-ton,  kingfiehl,  Phillips  and  Lebanon,  with 
their  \  icinities. 

Mr.  If  >  Hon  >jiont  a  greater  part  of  lii^  time  in  Pin -ton,  than 
i;i  any  other  place  assigned  him  for  missionary  labor ;  and  the 

I  Le  continued  him  five  Sabbaths  by  their  own  coutributi 
tie  closed -Ms  mission  at  Lebanon,  wnere  the  people  have  con- 
tinued u>  employ  him  hitherto  on  their  own  account:  01  this 
place,  he  remarks:  "  I  here  found  a  church  of  about  50  members, 
with  lew  exceptions,  in  as  flourishing  a  state  as  respects  faith 
and  practice,  a-,  could  be  expected  with  regard  to  a  church  so 
long  deprived  of  a  pastor.  Both  in  the  church  and  in  the  So- 
ciety, I  think.  1  discern  evident  traces  of  the  faithful  labors  of 
their  late  pastor. "  He  closes  his  journal  under  date  of  3d  ifist. 
observing:  "The  Lord,  I  trust  is  answering  prayer.  Ap 
pearances  are  favorable.  Several,  in  this  place,  have  already  in- 
dulged hope;  some  exhibit  much  distress  for  their  souls;  others 
aanifest  more  or  les^  theughtfulness  and  anxiety." 

The  preceding  notices,  give  a  general  view  of  the  missionary 
services  of  the  past  year;  and  the  trustees  would  not  attempt 
that  minuteness  of  detail  which  would  be  proper  for  the  mission 
aries  themselves,  in  regard  to  their  respective  spheres  of  opera 
tion.  The  trustees  have  satisfactory  evidence  of  the  prudence 
and  fidelity,  with  which  the  missionaries  have  performed  the 
various  services  assigned  them.  And  though  no  extensive  re- 
rivals  have  been  witnessed  in  the  course  of  their  labor-  ;  yet  it 
may  be  confidently  asserted,  that  much  good  lias  been  done. 
Weak  churches  have  been  strengthened,  and  where  there  was 
'  a  famine  of  hearing  the  words  of  the  Lord,"  they  have  been 
fed.  A  very  general  and  unusual  attention  to  the  means  ol 
ligion  has  been  excited  ;  and  in  many  places  sOme  sprinklings  of 
divine  grace;  (and  we  should  not  ''despise  the  (lay  of  small 
things  ;")  some  sprinklings  of  divine  grace  which  may  be  viewed 
i-  a  prelude  to  "  an  abundance  of  rain  :"  ma)  be  viewed,  as  a 
pledge  from  Heaven,  that  God  will  command  his  blessing,  even 
life  forevermore. 

And  is  it  any  ground  of  discouragement,    any   reason  for  dis- 

inuing  missionary  efforts,  be     ise  there  are  no  extensive  and 

■rful  revivals  of  religion  within  the  limits  of  their  operation  r 

Shal    •      u    teglect  to  sow,  because  the  harvest  is  not  so  earh  as 


24 

lie  could  wish  ?  Shall  he  refuse  to  "  hreak  up  the  fallow  ground," 
and  to  enrich  and  cultivate  the  soil,  because  he  cannot  command 
the  growth  of  the  fruits  of  the  earth  ?  No.  "  Let  Paul  plant,  and 
A  polios  water,  and  wait  upon  God  for  the  increase."  Besides 
if  the  want  of  immediate,  manifest,  and  abundant  success,  should 
discourage  missionary  efforts,  why  not  the  continuance  of  the 
stated  means  of  religion  ?  In  the.  eighty  congregational  churches 
in  our  state  which  are  supplied  with  pastors,  how  few  are  the  re- 
vivals of  religion  now  !  and  how  few  have  there  been  in  the  year 
that  is  past  !  We  do  not  say,  there  are  none.  There  are — bless- 
ed be  God  !— there  are  those,  which  gladden  the  hearts  of  the 
friends  of  Zion.  But  how  few  are  the  fields,  which  are  as  "  a 
watered  garden,"  compared  with  those  which  are  a  "  barren  heath, 
and  know  not  when  good  cometh  !"  "  This  is  a  lamentation,  and 
shall  be  for  a  lamentation."  But  should  it  at  all  discourage 
exertions?  It  should  increase  them.  It  should  also  lead  to  a  sol- 
emn, heart-searching,  and  humbling  enquiry,  wherefore  the  Lord 
should  stay  his  blessing;  why  he  should  make  "  the  heavens  over 
our  heads  as  brass,  and  the  rain  of  our  land  as  powder  and  dust." 

We  must  feel  more,  and  pray  more,  and  do  more  in  regard  to 
this  important  object,  before  we  can  receive  the  honorable  testi- 
monial, the  consoling  approbation,  given  to  a  disciple  by  our 
Lord,  in  the  days  of  his  flesh  ;  They  have  done  what  they  could. 

The  statement  of  the  treasury  will  be  submitted  to  you,  by  the 
officer  of  that  department.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  trustees'have 
not  only  exhausted  the  means  put  into  their  hands,  but  made 
some  anticipation  of  the  expected  income  of  the  present  meeting. 
Indeed  this  has  been  usually  done.  And  such  were  the  multi- 
plied and  importunate  calls  of  the  last  year,  that  they  could  not 
well  do  otherwise.  They  heard  the  cries  of  the  destitute  around 
them ;  and  hearing,  they  could  not  but  pity  them  ;  and  pitying, 
they  could  not  but  attempt  to  relieve  them. 

This  Society,  it  is  well  known,  lives  only  upon  the  charities  of 
the  day.  It  has  so  lived,  and  led  a  life  of  extensive  usefulness, 
for  sixteen  years.  It  has  no  means,  except  what  the  Lord  sends, 
bv  his  servants,  from  day  to  day.  The  trustees  would  except 
from  this  remark,  a  few  hundred  dollars,  the  avails  of  the  re- 
siduary legacy  of  the  late  Peter  Thatcher,  Esquire  ;  and  also  the 
reversion,  after  the  death  of  the  incumbent,  of  two  farms  with 
dwelling-houses,  the  bequest  of  the  late  Dr.  John  Wingate.  The 
property  last  mentioned,  the  Society  will  probably  be  disposed  to 
make  an  immediate  sale  of.  The  reversion,  it  is  judged,  by  men 
acquainted  with  that  species  of  property,  and  who  have  examined 
the  premises  with  that  particular  view,  might  be  sold  now,  for 
between  1000  and  1500  dollars. 

But,  besides  these  two  small  items,  the  Society  depends  en- 
tirely, (under  God,)  upon  the  annual  and  voluntary  contributions 
of  the  Christian  public.  And  will  that  Christian  public  suffer 
all  Institution  to  languish,  whose  sole  object  is  to    honor  the 


33 

"KetWemer,  in  the  salvation  of  perishing  souls?  Ob,  nol  the* 
cannot.  "  The  love  of  Christ  constraineth  them.'?  They  will 
continue,  as  they  have  done,  to  cast  into  the  treasury  of  the 
Lonl,  until  it  slu u  be  said,  as  it  was  in  the  btildingof  the  taber- 
nacle of  old  :  "  The  people  bring  much  more  than  enough  for  the 
service  of  the  work,  which  the  Lord  commanded  to  make." 
(Exodus  36  :  5.) 

This  society  has  strong  claims  upon  the  charities  of  those,  who 
are  interested  in  the  spread  of  pure,  evangelical,  spiritual  re- 
ligion ;  the  onlj  religion  indeed  which  can  bow  the  stubborn  will, 
and  bring  ''every  thought  into  captivity  to  Christ."  It  is  this 
that  must  raise  man  from  the  ruins  of  theapostacy.     This  "gos- 

E:l  of  the  kingdom  is  to  be  proclaimed  to  the  world  ;"'  a  "  world 
ins  in  wickedness*"  It  is  *'  the  glorious  gospel  of  the  blessed 
ad  ;"  and  it  shall  be  accompanied  with  a  Sovereign  irresistible 
power.  The  art  and  sophistry  of  men  and  devils  shall  not  ob- 
scure its  splendor  $  the  combined  efforts  of  earth  and  hell  shall 
not  arrest  its  progress.  It  is  "  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation, 
to  every  one  mat  believeth."  Nothing  else  can  renew,  convert 
and  save  the  soul.  What  can  philosophy,  what  can  human  rea- 
son and  human  wisdom  accomplish  r  "NX  hat  can  essays  and  lec- 
tures upon  moral  fitness  and  the  beauty  of  virtue  avail,  to  sanc- 
tify the  polluted  heart,  to  give  life  to  the  spiritually  dead,  and  to 
bring  the  wandering  sinner  home  to  his  God  i  He  is  bound  by 
the  chains  of  sin  ;  chains  which  no  earthly  efforts  can  break.  He 
is  under  the  burden  of  iniquity,  a  burden  which  no  arm  of  flesh 
can  remove.  How  cutting,  and  yet  how  just  is  the  language  of 
the  Christian  poet ! 

"  Haste  now,  philosopher,  and  set  him  free. 
Charm  the  deaf  serpent  wisely.     Make  him  hear 
Ot"  rectitude  and  fitness,  moral  truth 
How  lovely,  and  the  moral  sense  how  sure, 
Consulted  and  obeyed,  to  guide  his  steps 
Directly  to  the  First  and  only  Fair. 
Spare  not  in  such  a  cause.     Spend  all  the  powers 
Of  rant  and  rhapsody  in  virtue's  praise  ; 
Be  most  sublimely  good,  verbosely  grand, 
And  with  poetic  trappings  grace  thy  prose, 
Till  it  oulmantle  all  the  pride  of  verso. 
Ah  !  tinkling  cymbal,  and  high  sounding  brass, 
Smitten  in  vain  !  Such  music  cannot  charm 
The  eclipse  that  intercepts  truth's  heavenly  beam. 
And  chills  and  darkens  a  wide-wandering  soul. 
The  still  small  voice  is  wanted      He  must  speak, 
Whose  word  leaps  forth  at  once  to  its  elfect. 
The  transformation  of  apostate  man 
From  fool  to  wise,  from  earthly  to  divine, 
Is  work  for  him  that  made  him.     He  alone 
Achieves  the  wonder." 

And  such  wonders   nave  been  achieved,  in  every  age  of  tow 
worlds    T1'-''  last  'v-,a:"cer  of  a  century  has  been  distinguished  b} 

5 


34 

the  rapid  extension  and  multiplied  trophies  of  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom.  The  darkest  minds  have  been  illuminated  ;  and  the 
fiercest  natures  subdued.  A  single  instance  might  illustrate 
this  ;  an  instance  occurring,  but  the  last  month,  at  the  meeting 
of  the  "United  Foreign  Missionary  Society;"  where  an  Osage 
Avarrior  presented  to  the  institution  his  "  war  club,"  with  the 
solemn  avowal  that  his  arm  should  never  again  wield  that  weapon 
of  hostility  upon  the  field  of  battle;  but  that  henceforth  he  would 
be  the  disciple  of  Him,  whose  descent  from  heaven  to  our  world 
was  celebrated  with  the  song  of  angels  :  Peace  on  earth,  good 
will  to  men.  And  is  this  the  arm  of  man  ?  Oh  no,  it  is  "  the 
finger  of  God."  This  is  the  only  power  that  can  tame  the 
savage  ;  that  can  change  the  lion  into  the  Iamb.  And  the  united 
efforts  of  various  Christian  institutions,  embracing  the  zeal  and 
ardor  of  many,  and  accompanied  with  the  blessing  of  Heaven, 
shall  multiply  such  tokens  of  power  and  grace  all  over  the  earth. 
Idols  shall  fall,  and  darkness  shall  vanish,  and  God  alone  be 
glorified.  Soon  the  appointed  angel  shall  exclaim  with  exulta- 
tion and  triumph  ;  "  The  kingdoms  of  this  world  are  become  the 
kingdoms  of  our  Lord  and  of  his  Christ;  and  he  shall  reign  for- 
ever and  ever."  Yes,  "  at  the  name  of  Jesus  every  knee  shall 
bow,  of  things  in  Heaven,  and  things  in  earth,  and  things  under 
the  earth  ;  and  every  tongue  shall  confess  that  Jesus  Christ  is 
Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father." 

^mooooooooo*^*- 

TREASURER'S     STATEMENT. 


Maine  Missionary  Society,  in  account  current  with  Daniel 
Campbell,  their  Treasurer.  Dr. 

June  25.  To  paid  Trustees'  orders         -  -       §2048,17 

1823.  To  counterfeit  bills  taken  on  their  account, 
last  annual  meeting  and  credited  them  in 
our  settlement  ....  7^0 


82055,17 

By  balance  in  Treasury,  as  per  settlement  last       C'r. 

year,  consisting  of  cash     -      377,74}  fty.„  ,. . 

Notes  due  the  Society       -      355,80  5  »7Jo,04 

Donations  ami  contributions  ...  1374,03 
Monies  received  to  constitute  life  members  80,00 

Entries  and  annuities  --.-•-       465,00 


§2652,57 
Debt  brought  down,  J  2055,17 


Balance  in  Treasury,  $597.40 


85 

Portland,  June  25,  1823. 

The  subscriber,  having  been  appointed  i<»  audit  the  accounts  of 
the  Treasurer  during  the  year  past,  has  attended  to  that  service, 
and  finds  them  correctlj  casl  and  well  vouched,  and  thai  there 
\\  as  in  the  Treasury ,  at  the  last  annual  meeting,  a  balance  of  seven 
hundred  and  thirty -three  dollars  and  fifty-four  cents,  and  there 
has  been  paid  into  it,  in  donations  and  contribitfiens,  one  thous- 
and, three  hundred  Beventy-four  dollars  and  three  cents;  in  an- 
nuities  and  entries,  four  hundred  and  sixty-five  dollars;  and  in 
life  subscriptions,  eighty  dollars  ;  making  a  total  of  two  thousand 
BU  hundred  and  fifty-two  dollars  and  fifty-seven  cents.  I)  ;  ing 
the  year,  the  Treasurer  has  paid  Trustees'  orders  to  the  amount 
of  two  thousand  and  forty-eight  dollars  and  7y7,  and  been  allow- 
ed seven  dollars  for  counterfeit  bills,  paid  in  bv  persons  un- 
known: making  the  total  of  expenditures  for  the  year,  two 
thousand  and  fifty -five  dollars,  and  seventeen  cents;  and  leaving 
a  balance  in  the  Treasury  ol  live  hundred  and  ninety-seven  dol- 
lars and  forty  cents,  as  per  his  account  above. 

ASA  CUMMINGS,  Auditor. 


Account  of  monies  received  for  1 822,  after  last  year's  statement 
had  gone  to  the  press,  and  up  to  July  24,  1823. 

DONATIONS  AND  CONTRIBUTIONS. 

From  g  ets. 

Rev.  Professor  Fowler,  Bangor,  5,00 
Rev.  Dr.  Payson's  society,  Portland,                                      100,00 

Otisfield  Female  Miss.  Society,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Merrill.  5,18 

Female  Misg.  Society,  Berwick,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Hilliard,  10,00 

Female  Assistant  Miss.  Society,  Falmouth,  23,00 

Mrs.  Kendrick,  Pittston,  by  Mr.  .1.  Weston,  1,00 
Female  Cent  Society,  Bath,  Mrs.  Ellingwood,  Treasurer, 

half  yearly  payment,  17,84 

Peoplc'at  Indian  River,  by  Mr.  H.  A.  Merrill,  2,00 

People  at  Moos  Pecky  Reech,  by  same,  1,02 

Mr.  Jonathan  Woodward,  Columbia,  by  same,  ,75 

People  in  Solon,  by  Mr.  Kelly,  2,50 

Mr.  Elias  Bond's  Miss,  box,  2,50 
Bill  on  Mechanic  Bank,  uncurrent  here,  but  passed  by  me 

in  Baltimore,  2,00 
Avails  of  Miss,  field  in  Winlhrup,  in  Rev.  Mr.  Thurston's 

society,  2,50 
Bath  Female  Cent  Society,  Mrs.  Ellingwood,  Treasurer, 

half  yearly  payment,  24, 67 

Contribution  of  Rev.  Mr.  Ell  dogwood's  society,  Bath,  18,00 

Mr.  John  Taylor,  Bath,  2,00 

Female  Charitable  Society,  Wayne,  Mis.  Dexter,  Treas.  3,75 


36 

Female  Cent  Society,  first  Parish  North -Yarmouth,  Mrs. 

Cummings,  Treasurer,  2'£,00 
Rev.  Mr.  Cummings,  N.  Yarmouth,  1,00 

The  preceding  Hems  are  included  in  the  Auditor's  certificate  the 
present  year. 

Female  Donation  Society,  New-Gloucester  10,00 
Female  Professor,  avails  of  a  garden,  5,00 

Female  Miss.  Society,  Strong,  Mrs.  Hunter,  Treasurer,  10,08 

Female  Miss.  Society,  Farmington,  Mrs.  Titcomb,  Treas.  13,86 
From  Norridgewock,  2,00 

Rev.  Mr.  Kellogg's  Society,  Windham,  12,63 

Female  Miss.  Society,  Portland,  Mrs.  Greely,  Treasurer,  31, 2C 

Avails  of  Mr.  Thomas  Smith's  Miss.  Field,  4,45 
Avails  of  his  son  Thomas'  Miss.  Field,  75 

Female  Cent  Society,  Litchfield,  Mrs.  Smith,  Treasurer,       7,45 

Congregational  Society,  Litchfield,  4,83 
Female  Cent  Society,  Freeport,  Mrs.Vezie,  Treasurer,         8,26 

Rev.  Mr.  Merrill's  Society,  Freeport,   •  6,47 

Rev.  Mr.  Greely's  Society,  Turner,  4,00 

People  in  Danville,  by  Rev.-  Mr.  Greely,  4,00 
Female  Cent  Society,  Waldoborough,  7,00 

Mr.  George  Holm,  avails  of  Miss.  Feld,  2,00 

Mr.  E.  Hall,  2,00 

Rev.  Mr.  Tappan's  Society,  Augusta,  26,26 
A  2d  donation  from  an  aged  friend,  Augusta,  1,00 

Rev.  Mr.  Mead's  Society,  Brunswick,  21,00 
Female  friend,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Sewall,  1,00 

Female  Cent  Soc.  Wells,  raised  in  1822,  Mrs.  Storer,  Treas.  17,27 

Same  Society  in  1823,  Miss  Wheelwright,  Treasurer,  12,00 

An  unknown  friend,  5,00 

A  friend,  2,00 
Females  in  Hampden,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Loomis,  3,00 

Rev.  President  Allen,  Bowdoin  College,  10,00 
Charity  Box  in  Portland,  enclosed  in  a  letter  by  Mercy  A. 

Whitman,  1,50 

Female  Miss.  Society,  Minot,  Mrs.  Jones,  Treasurer,  7,50 

Cape  Elizabeth  Female  Cent  Society,  13,78- 

Rev.  Jotham  Sewall's  Society,  Chesterville,  S,26 

Otisfield  Female  Miss.  Society,  Miss  Knight,  Treasurer,  4,25 

People  of  Raymond,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Merrill,  6,75 
Contribution  after  Sermon,  at  Portland, 

and  a  Gold  Ring,  201,75 

A  Female,  in  Limerick,  by  Mr.  Payson,  1,00 

Rev.  Mr.  Ingraham's  Parish,  Thomaston,  13,85 
Mr.  Nathaniel  Chapman,  5,00 

Rev.  Mr.  Starrett's  Society,  Weld,  6,44 

People  in  Temple,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Starrett,  3,30 

Female  Miss.  Society, Temple,  Miss  Sal va  Abbott,  Treasurer,6, 8© 


37 

Money  returned  by  Select  Committee,  1,86 

Mr.  Aaron  Cummuigs,  1,00 
Avails  of  Miss,  field  in  neighborhood  of  Rev.  Mr.  Thurston, 

Winthrop,  15,88 

Interest  on  money  loaned,  4,00 
Female  Assistant    Miss.    Society,    Gorliam,  Mrs.    Lewis, 

Treasurer,  27,50 

Female  Charitable  Society,  Fairfield,  6,56 

Contribution  of  Rev.  Mr.  Holt's  Society,  Bloomfield,  7,00 

Donation  Female  Cent  Society,  Bloomfield,  10,06 

People  in  Solon,  bv  Subscription,  r,no 

Contribution  box,  Windsor,  3, .37 

Contribution  in  Rev.  Mr.  Thurston's  Society,  Winthrop,  11,57 

Society  of  Females,  Clinton,  10,02 
Female  Miss.  Society,  Industry,  Miss  C.  Allen,  Treasurer,    2,75 

Female  Miss.  Society,  Starks,  Miss  S.  Wood,  Treasurer,  2,59 
Pair  of  thin  Shoes,  Capt.  J.  Trask, 

Female  religious  Society,  Hallowell,  18,65 

Contribution  in  Rev.  Mr.  Gillet's  Society,  Hollowell,  31,00 

Avails  of  cloth  from  New-Sharon,  12,75 

Avails  of  Missionary  Sermons  sold,  '  ,60 
Donation  from  Winthrop  Female  Assistant  Miss.  Society, 

Mrs.  P.  Thurston,  Treasurer,  9,31 

Avails  of  three  gold  ring9,  ,58 
A  bequest  from  the  late  Miss  Maria  Manning,  of  Salem, 

(Mass.)  given  during  her  last  sickness,  for  Missionary 

purposes,  by  the  hands  of  Rev.  Mr.  Ellingwood,  25,00 

ENTRIES  AND  ANNUITIES. 

Rev.  T.  Adams,                     82   N.  Coffin,  Esq.  6 

Hon.  B.  Ames                           2   C.  Clapp,  Esq.  2 

J.  Burbank                                2  T.  dishing  4 

S.  G.  Bowman                          2   *Capt.  F.  Clark  2 

Rev.  K.  Bailey                          2   Mrs.  Cleaves  2 

E.Bond                                    2   Rev.  J.  Cogswell  £ 

Capt.  T.  Brown                         2  J.  Chase  6 

Dr.  J.  Barker                            2   Dea.  J.  Coe  2 

Dea.  T.  Bradbury                      2   L.  Cross  a 

Rev.  M.  Blood   "                     6   N.  Cram  2 

E.  Bailey                                   1    D.  Campbell  2 

S.  Blanchard                              1   J.Craig  2 

J.  J.  Boyd                                   3   L.  Cutter  2 

J.  Bartlet                                   I   N.  Chapman  2 

Rev.  P.  Chapin                         8   N.  Chadburn  1 

S.  Curtis,  Esq.                           2   S.  Cobb  2 

Dea.  N.  Cross                           2   E.  Collier  1 

•  Capt.  P.  tlark  paid  S2  in  1822,  which  by  mistake  was  put  to  the  name 
of  Capt.  8.  Clark,  in  lust  year's  s<men 


38 


I).  M.  Cutter 
E.  Dole 
W.  Doiuicll 
Rev.  N.  Douglass 
N.  Dana 

A.  A.  Dillingham 

B.  Dodge 
E.  Day 
L.  Dana 

W.  Dinsmore 
J.  Dinsmore 
S.  Dinsmore 
P.  El  well 
J.  Ehvell 
Dea.  J.  Eveleth 
Rev.  S.  Eaton 
J.  Emery 
W.  Emmons,  Esq. 
J.  Eaton 
O.  Everett 
Dea.  J.  French 
Dea.  C.  Freeman 
Col.  J.  Foxcroft 

C.  Farley 

Rev.  J.  P.  Fessenden 

0.  Fales 

Gen.  S.  Fessenden 

A.  P.  Follansbee 

Doct.  T.  Flint 

W.  Flint 

A.  R.  Giddings,  Esq. 

G.  Grovesner,  Esq. 

Rev.  A.  Greely 

J.  M.  Gerrish 

H.  Goddard 

Dea.  J.  Gow 

Dea.  E.  Heald 

G.  Hyde 

H.  Hyde 

Capt.  N.  Harding 

L.  Houghton 

P.  Haywood 

Capt.  S.  Hartley 

Dea  S.Hill 

N.  Howe 

E.  Howe 

J.  Hoole 


3  W.Hyde 

2  M.  Hanson 

2  Rev.  J.  Hilliard 

4  J.  Hyde 
2  Z.  Hvde 

2  J.  H.'Hartwell,  Esq. 

2  S.  Hill 

3  J.  Howe 

3  0.  S.  Hartshorn 

2  J.  Huse 

2  E.  Hoole 

2  Rev.  F.  Holt 

2  *T.  Hunter,  Esq. 

2  Rev.  J.  H.  Ingraham 

2  T.  Jackson 

2  Col.  J.  Johnson 

2  Dea.  H.  Ilsley 

1  Rev.  E.  Jones 

3  Capt.  J.  Keezer 

3  Rev.  D.  Kendrick 

2  J.  King 

2  J.  Kimball 

6  Rev.  G.  Kellogg 

2  Hon.  E.  Kelleran 

4  N.  Kinsman,  Esq. 
4  Dea.  J.  Kimball 

10  Maj.  J.  Loring 
2  R.  Lincoln 
2  Rev.  D.  Lovejoy 
2  L.  Loring 
2  W.  Ledyai  d 
4  Rev.  H.  Loomis 

2  J.  Ladd 

3  W.  Lord 
3  J.  Locke 

2  Hon.  A.  R.  Mitchell 
2  Rev.  D.  Mitchell 
2  S.  Morse 
2  Rev.  E.  Mosley 
2  J.  Mitchell 
2  N.  L.  Mitchell,  Esq. 
2  A.  R.  Mitchell,  Jr. 
2  Dea.  C.  Marsh 
2  Rev.  J.  G.  Merrill 
2  Capt.  S.  Moody 
2  T.  G.  Marsh 
2  Dea.  J.  Mitchell 


2 

2 

2 
2 
2 
6 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
4 
2 
2 

2 
4 
4 
2 
2 


*  T.  Hunter,  Esq.  paid  JJ3,  which  was  by  mistake  omitted   fn  the  last 
year's  statement. 


39 


R.  Mitchell 
.1.  Means 
\\  .  M'Lellan 
J.  Midi, el! 
J.  E.  Merrill 
S.  Merrill 

C.  Munis 

\\  .  C.  Mitchell 
Rev.  A.  Mead 

Rev.  8.  Merrill 

Rev.  C.  Marsh 

Hon.  B.  M'Letlan 
S.  Moody,  Esq, 
A.  Nichols 
P.  Owen 
J.  Owen 
Rev.  E.  Pay  son 
Dea.  S.  Pool 
Hon.  J.  Parsons 
N.  Pierce,  Esq. 
J.  Phinney 

D.  Pike 

Dea.  J.  Phillips 
S.  H.  Pearson 
Rev.  T.  Pomroy 
J.  Quincy 
M.  Quincy 

E.  Morse 
Dea.  J.  Russell 
W.  Richardson 
G.  Richardson 
.1.  Robinson 
Rev.  A.  Rand 
Rev.  L.  Ripley 
Capf.  T.  Robie 
T.  kobie 

L.  Richardson 
.1.  Sew  all,  Esq. 
Rev.  J.  Sewall 
Gen.  H.  .Sewall 


2  W.  Storer,  h    I    ■ 

2  Rev,  J.  Scott's  estate 

S  Rev.  8.  Sewall 

2  Hon.  I).  Sewall 
4  Dea.  I).  Sewall 

4  P.  Sprague 

5  D.  Stinson 

3  Rev.  S.  Sewall 

1  R.  Sawtell,  Esq. 

1  AN'.  Sylvester,  Esq. 

1  Doct.  R.  C.  Shannon 

2  J.  Sprague,  E*q. 
2  Rev.  D.  Starret 

1  B,  South  worth 

2  Dea.  J.  Stockbridge 
2  Dea.  H.  Southgate 
2  A.  Shirley 

2  Professor  J.  Smith 

2  Rev.  A.  Smith 

2  S.  Strickland,  Esq. 

2  B.Swan 

2  E.  Shepley,  Esq. 

2  S.  Stephenson 

2  S.  S.  Stacy 

1  S.  Steward 

2  T.  Smilie 

4  C.  Selden,  Esq. 

2  s.  Trufant 
I  L.  Townsend 

W.  W.  Thomas 

J.  Weston 

K.  Wood 

.!.  Weston 

W.  Wood 

Rev.  T.  Williams 

1  E.  Wyer 

3  J.  Webster 

2  Rev.  J.  Weston 
2  J.  Waugh,  Esq. 
2  E.  Wood,  Esq. 


MONIES  RECEIVED  TO  CONSTITUTii   LIFE   MEMBERS. 

Rev.  Charles  Frost,  by  Female  Cent  Society,  Bethel,  to 
constitute  him  a  life  member,  ooq  qq 

Rev.  Josiah  Peer,  by  People  in  his  Parish,  '2000 

Rev.  Thomas  M.Smith, by  Female  Chapel  Society,  Port-" 
land,  OQ  fJ() 

Rev.  Benjamin  Tappan,  by  Female  Bible   Societv,   Au- 
=usta>  30,00 


40 

SUMMARY. 

Balance  in  Treasury,  on  settlement  &397,4G 

Donations  and  Contributions  717,77 

Entries  and  Annuities  488,00 

Members  for  life  90,00 


1868,17 
Paid  out  since  last  settlement  831,00 


Balance  in  Treasury  S 1062, If 

D.  CAMPBELL, 

Winthrop,  July  24,  1823. 

OFFICERS  ELECTED,  JUNE  25,  1823. 

Rev.  WILLIAM  ALLEN,  D.  D.  Pres.  Bowd.  Coll.  President 

Hon.  AMMI  R.  MITCHELL,  N-  Yarmouth,  V.  President. 

Rev.  ELIPHALET  GILLET,  Hallowell,  Corres.  Secretary. 

Rev.  DAVID  THURSTON,  Winthrop,  Recording  Secretary. 
DANIEL  CAMPBELL,  Esq.  Winthrop,  Treasurer, 
ELIASHIB  ADAMS,  Esq.  Bangor,  Auditor. 


TRUSTEES. 

Rev.  KIAH  BAYLEY,  New-Castle. 
Rev.  MIGHILL  BLOOD,  Bucksport. 
Rev.  EDWARD  PAYSON,  D.  D.  Portland, 
Rev.  BENJAMIN  TAPPAN,  Augusta. 
Rev.  JONATHAN  COGSWELL,  Saco. 
Rev.  ASA  RAND,  Portland. 
Rev.  JOHN  W.  ELLINGWOOD,  Bath. 

Together  with  the  Presidents  and  Secretaries, 


SELECT  COMMITTEE. 

Rev.  ELIPHALET  GILLET, 
Rev.  WILLIAM  ALLEN,  D.  D. 
Rev.  DAVID  THURSTON, 
Rev.  BENJAMIN  TAPPAN, 
Rev.  JOHN  W.  ELLINGWOOD. 


The  next  meeting  of  the  Society  will  be  held  at  the  Rev,  Mr. 
Loomis'  meeting  house,  in  Bangor,  on  the  fourth  Wednesday  of 
June,  1824,  at  9  o'clock,  A.  M.  The  Rev.  Allen  Greely  of 
Turner  is  first  Preacher,  and  the  Rev.  David  M-  Mitchell,  his 
Bwfcsstitwte. 


